Toad Media

MEDIA RELEASE

1 November 2011

CANE TOADS. NEXT STOP? PERTH

The second toad in less than a year has been found in Bayswater,
one of Perth’s eastern suburbs. The Stop the Toad Foundation
(STTF) wants to know just how many toads need to be found in Perth
before the State Government will realize we have an environmental
disaster on our hands.

STTF is urging the State Government to act before it is too late
and toads are found in large numbers in the State’s capital
city. The Foundation, based in Western Australia, has been trying
to limit toad movements into WA for the past six years, but has
not received much support from the WA State Government.

“We have been requesting support from the WA Government to
trial fencing to keep toads out of certain areas within WA. Unfortunately,
the WA Government doesn’t seem interested,” said STTF
Campaign Manager Kim Hands.

STTF has erected numerous permanent fences around Kununurra, in
the east Kimberley, to keep toads out of certain areas, including
domestic properties, pool areas at local tourist destinations and
even a 2km fence around the iconic Emma Gorge on El Questro Station.

“We have found the fencing to be a great way to keep areas
cane toad free. It is very cost-effective, simple to erect and can
be easily monitored for toads.”

“The fencing strategy presents a management tool for the
WA Government to control toads in Perth. It could be easily applied
around freight yards to control any hitchhiker toads like the recent
one found in Bayswater. The fencing would ensure toads don’t
reach nearby wetlands, such as the Baigup wetlands, south-west of
Bayswater, and harm native animals such as the frog populations.”

“We have the control tool and willing volunteers to erect
fences around Perth. We just need the support of the WA Government.”

Toads were introduced into Australia in 1935 in an effort to
control beetles eating the sugar cane.

Toads produce toxins that are deadly to a range of endangered
Australian wildlife including northern quolls, goannas, snakes
and freshwater crocodiles. They also compete with native wildlife
for habitat and food.

The western frontline of toads is moving at least 40 km a year
and toads are now well and truly into The Kimberley.

Each female toad can lay 35000 eggs. The first rains indicate
to the toads it is time to breed.

STTF is a non-profit, non-government organization established
in 2005. There is one staff member, who divides her time between
Perth and Kununurra.

STTF has held The Great Toad Muster for the past 5 years. A
total of 200,000 toads have been removed with the help of hundreds
of volunteers around Australia.

STTF uses temporary and permanent fencing to control toads.

The Emma gorge fence is the first toad proof fence to be erected
in the East Kimberley. It is 1.34km long and took 12 days to build.
The total cost was just over $7K.